Two exciting new developments are on their way to Mentor, Ohio, following the November 6, 2025, Planning Commission meeting. Both Giant Panda Market & Café and Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard received unanimous approvals for conditional use permits, paving the way for expanded customer experiences with outdoor dining and drive-thru services.
Giant Panda Market & Café: Korean-Inspired Expansion
Located at 7770 Mentor Avenue, Giant Panda Market & Café will be transforming a former bank building into a Korean grocery and café experience. Business owner Tran Bam, who already operates Panda Café storefronts at the Great Lakes Mall, is bringing her unique fusion of Korean street food, boba drinks, and coffee creations into a new location.
The Planning Commission approved two key components to the new café: a small outdoor patio and a reconfigured drive-thru where a former bank drive-thru once existed. The outdoor seating area will include a cozy covered patio featuring stone architectural elements and a small fireplace to match the existing structure. The drive-thru will accommodate traffic flow in the opposite direction of the bank’s original setup and is expected to handle significant volume with a dedicated employee parking area to manage the space effectively.
Rita’s Italian Ice & Custard: A Cool Rewrite for an Old Drive-Thru
Further down Mentor Avenue, at 7652, a former Subway and Taco Bell location is poised to become home to Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard. The franchisee plans to revamp the existing building, keeping much of the structure intact but upgrading it with fresh interiors and brand-aligned exteriors.
An outdoor picnic area will be added on the building’s east side, away from the busy street, replacing four parking spaces. The new seating area will feature rubberized mulch, ballards for safety, and 4-8 picnic tables for guests to enjoy their treats outside. The existing drive-thru, previously used by Taco Bell, will be reused with new striping and minor changes for better customer access.
During review, commissioners raised an important safety consideration about pedestrian access in the drive-thru area. In response, a fourth condition was added requiring installation of a 4-foot decorative barrier and ballard at the east side door to guide foot traffic safely and prevent walkouts directly into vehicle paths.
Modern Uptown Project Also Approved
In addition to the food and retail developments, the commission also greenlit Uptown Mentor — a four-story mixed-use building offering ground-floor commercial space with retail or restaurant use and residential apartments on top. This long-awaited project at 8693-8671 Mentor Avenue includes underground parking, strong architectural elements, and a fenced area for added privacy and safety.
After much anticipation and refinements, the commission approved both the final site plan and architectural design, with a few minor amendments to agreements and building materials. The public reception for the development has been overwhelmingly positive, with many locals eager to see Mentor’s downtown corridor come to life with new businesses, housing, and walkable amenities.
As Mentor continues to evolve, these approvals speak to the city’s commitment to fostering vibrant, mixed-use developments and supporting diverse local businesses.
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